Border, Language and School: State Frameworks in Slovenian Education of the First Half of the 20th Century

The first half of the 20th century was a period of socio-political upheaval in the territory of present-day Slovenia and its surroundings, which led to the establishment of new identities and values. In the aftermath of World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939/1941-1945), state structures changed and borders shifted, which had a decisive impact on people’s lives. The school system as one of the most important instruments of the state, played a key role in shaping collective identities. 

The relationship between the changing state frameworks, the spread of social values, the enforcement of language policy and the changing school systems in the territory of present-day Slovenia in the first half of the 20th century is a multifaceted topic that has not yet been very systematically researched. By organising a scientific symposium, the Slovenian School Museum aims to contribute to a broader reflection on the values of education and language in the professional and general public. To this end, representatives of different generations, disciplines and institutions in the field of science and culture from Slovenia and across the border will participate in the symposium in three thematic sections, thus giving the event an interdisciplinary character.

The symposium papers are published in a thematic issue of the journal School Chronicle 2025.

Programme

9.00–9.10 Opening Address
(Moderated by: Andreja Cigale)

• Stane Okoliš, Director of the Slovenian School Museum

9.10–10.30 Centre, Periphery and Minority: Sensitivity in the Use of the Language of Instruction
(Moderated by: Anton Arko)

• Simon Malmenvall, St Stanislav Institute: The first Slovenian classical gymnasium in the quest for a national and Catholic society
• Danijel Grafenauer, Slovenian language teaching and bilingual education in Austrian Carinthia in the first half of the 20th century
• László Göncz, Education in the Prekmurje region in the first half of the 20th century, with a focus on the education of the Hungarian minority between the two wars

Discussion

10.30–10.45 Break

10.45–12.05 Primorska: Preservation and Exclusion of the Slovenian language
(Moderated by: Simon Malmenvall)

• Robert Devetak, Slovenian education in the Gorizia region during the transition from Austria-Hungary to Italy
• Milena Černe, The Destruction of Slovenian schools under Italian fascist rule on the example of the Tolmin supervisory district
• Matic Batič, The construction of Italian schools in Venezia Giulia and their symbolic language (1918-1943)

Discussion

12.05–12.20 Break

12.20–14.00 World War II: Ideological Pressures and Attempts to Revive Slovenian Schools
(Moderated by: Robert Devetak)

• Anton Arko, The leader figure in primary school readers in Slovenia under Nazi occupation
• Damjan Hančič, The failure of the Germanisation of Gorenjska youth through the school system during the German occupation
• Erika Jazbar, “Fascist Poison”. A Slovenian grammar school under the Kostanjevica Monastery (Gorizia, 1944–1945)
• Matic Intihar, Education of Slovenians in Buenos Aires: Different destinies of two emigrant communities

Discussion and conclusion.

We invite you to read the abstracts in the Symposium Booklet.